Coffee maker



Oct. 9, 1934. G. n. MACBETH COFFEE MAKER Filed Jan. 30. 1933 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 ACOFFEE MAKER 1 George D. Macbeth, Pittsburgh, Pa., alsimr to Macbeth-Evans Glass Company, Gharleroi, Pa.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 30, 1933, Serial No. 654,138

5Claims.`

My invention relates to coee makers and particularly to coii'ee makers o! the so-called vacuum type in which liquid is caused to flow automatically by pressure or vacuum from one con- 8 tainer to another.

It has been proposed 'heretofore .to provide coiee makers of the same general type as that of the .present invention but the devices of the prior art have had certain disadvantages that are avoided in the colee maker of my invention. For example, certain coffee makers that employ fabric or other straining material for preventing the iiow of sediment from the upper container to the lower container include the provision of devices for holding the straining cloth oi fabric in position.

Such devices have Ibeen held rigidly in position so that they cannot yield in response to excessive pressure that may be generated in the lower container. It is well known 'that steam may be evolved relatively rapidly and unless ample passageways are available for the ilow oi' water or the escape of such steam at the rate at which it is evolved, there is danger of the lower container bursting by reason of excessive pressure therein.

In accordance with the present invention, I -provide a coffee maker in which fabric or other straining material is employed i in conjunction with a gravity-seated member for retaining it in position. This retaining member is of such weight that it will normally retain the straining material in operative position but it will yield upwardly in case excessive pressures are developed in the lower container. 4

A further feature of the straining device is that it is not provided with perforations but has on its outer periphery a series oi' grooves for facilitating the flow of liquid from one container to the other. Portions of the periphery between certain pairs of these grooves are of reduced radius, with the result that the retaining device is provided with three angularly spacedl portions of longer radius which operate to clamp the straining cloth between the retaining device and the surrounding walls. The provision oi' three projecting portions is of particular convenience inasmuch as this number permits the rotation of the retaining device to such position that it will f all to its seat.

It is well known that in blowing articles oi glass intoI a mold, the exterior surfaces may be of uniform contour and entirely symmetrical. but it is substantially impossible to obtain `perfectly uniform wall thickness, and, accordingly, the in- (ci. sc si terior surfaces of such'articles may be somewhat irregular in shape. Accordingly, it is diicult to provide cooperating articles that are interchangeable lwith surfaces formed in this manner. However, by providing the retaining member withthreeiprojections for engaging the straining cloth, the member may be adjusted angularly to a suitable position in which i-t will readily drop by gravity to its seat.

The details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a coiiee maker constructed infdccordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line II'II of Fig. 1.

-Referring to Fig. 1, the coil'ee maker of my invention comprises a lower container l, an upper container 2 having an integral tube extending vertically into the lower container 1, a member 4 for retaining straining material in the annular portion 5 at the bottom oi the container 2 and a handle 6 for the lower container 1.

The lower container 1, which is preferably of glass, is provided at its top with a relatively small neck portion 7, the upper part oi which'80 iiares outwardly, whereby the container may be conveniently filled with water. or codec may be poured therefrom.

The upper container 2 is also preferably of glass and it may be open at its top. It is provided at its bottom portion with nearly vertical side walls to constitute an annular portion 5 in which is mounted the retaining device 4 which may be termed a strainer block. The tube 3, which communicates with the annular portion 5, is provided adjacent toits upper end with a sleeve or gasket 8 that is of rubber or other suitable ilexibleor resilient material which, when inserted within the neck portion 7 of the lower container, hermeticaily seals the connections between the containers i and 2.

The tube 3 ends a short distance above the bottom oi' the lower container 1, this distance regulating the level o! the water remaining in the lower container during the operation o1.' the 100 coiiee maker. The strainer block 4 Iis of solid glass and oi neariy cylindrical shape, being slightly tapered to coniormto the side walls of the annular portion 5. It is provided with an upwardly projecting portion 9 having a knob 10 105 thereon to constitute a handle i'or removing the block 4.

As best shown in wir vided on its per continuations o.,

. the block 4 is provertical grooves 12,

bottom face ofthe block 4 a suiilcient distance duction of excessive pressure in the lower conn that they communicate with the upper end of tainer, for any cause whatsoever, the strainer the tube 3. 'Ihese grooves on the exterior of the block 4, which is seated by gravity, may be raised block 4 thus connect the upper container 2 to to permit the escape of water or steam at a suf- 5 the tube 3. While any vsuitable number of liciently rapid rate to relieve the pressure in the 80 grooves may be thus-provided, it is preferred that lower container. When the pressure is relieved, the grooves are six in number in order that the the block 4 will again be seated' in its normal portions for retaining the straining cloth may position. conveniently be .of the desired number, three. Since the heating has been discontinued, the lo It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2 steam above the surface of the lwater in the 85 that the peripheral portions 13 of the block 4 lower container now gradually condenses as the between alternate pairs of grooves 12 are of temperature falls with a corresponding lowering shorter radius than the, three peripheral portionsv of pressure therein. When the steam is sufilcient- 14 between the other pairs of groovesl 12. The ly condensed, the vacuum thus produced causes 15 three projecting portionsv 14, which are equi-anthe water in the upper container to be forced 90 v gularly spaced around the block 4, constitute downwardly around the strainer block 4 and projections for engaging straining material 15 through the grooves 12 and the straining mawhich extends around the block 4 and under the terial 15 into the tube 3. No ground or sediment bottom thereof across the'V mouth ofA the tube 3. are permitted to flow downwardly because of the z 0 'I'he neck portion 7 ofthe lowercontainer 1 is presence of the straining material 15 and the 95 provided with a sleeve 16 that is of rubber or cofree thus produced is clear by reason of they other suitable resilientand heat insulating ma absence of sediment. terial, and which is gripped by' a. hinged clamp- 'I'he downward now continues until all of the ing ring 17 of the handle which may be of metal liquid is transferred to the lower container where- 26 if desired since it is not in contact with thellquid upon the upper container may -be removed. The 100 coffee, liquid coilee which is now in the'lower container In the operation of my improved colee maker.. may be served from the latter by using the hanv it may be assumed that the upper container 2 iS dle 6 to lift or tilt the lower lcontainer as de- Y separated from the lower container 1, and that gired EK e 3oA the latter has been filled with .water to a suitable The strainer block 4 andthestraining material 105 level. It will be understood that the qu tity of 15 may be removed by means of the knobl'opandg v Water Will correspond approximately to at 0f the block 4 and another piece of straining matethe coiee that is desired to be made. The uprial. 15 may be replaced in position in the manper container 2, having the straining cloth 15 ner described above.

g5 and the strainer block 4 in'position and with thev :inasmuch es all ofthe parts of the coffee maker 110 Sleeve 8 upon the tube 3, iS then Placed in Sea1' with which the liquid comes in contact are o! ins position on the lower container 1 as illus- `glass or other nonmetellic material there can trated. Suillcient 'ground .coffee iS then Placed be no foreign taste, such as that caused by conin the upper container 2 to make the beverage -tact of hot liquid coffee with metal surfaces.

v 40 of the desire dstrensth. The operation of the coiiee maker is extremely 115 The lower container is then heated by any simple and entirely automatic when heat is apsuitable means,4 such as gas or electricity. The plied thereto and is discontinued. The process c l cir above the water is heated and the fluid Presis continued until certain desirable constituents Sure upon the Water inerte-Set 8S the temperaof the coffee have been infused in'to the liquid ture rises. This pressure is sumcient to cause and the beverage thus produced has'the natural .120

an initial flow of water upwardly through the tasteof coffee,v j tube 3 and through. the grooves 12 around the while the apparatus of the present invention block 4 into wthe!omici-/containe1r-I-luedorme-has been described with iparticiuar reference to curs very gradually at first but increases with comme@ v so the temperature. of the water and the pressure ing of tee., since the liquid in the upper-.con arq/25N thereabove. When the water in the lower conis always below' the boiling point, The apparatus telnor reaches. the boiling point. steam will colf' is alsoadapted for making infusions of various lect bovethe surface of the water and the p kinds, such as chemical or pharmaceutical prepsure thereon .18 rDidLv increased to force the arations as will be readily understood. Water Pwd Wellen the tube 3 et corre" The apparatus conts'insasingle movable mem- 1m spcndinsly increased re ber that is to be removed for cleaning The upward 50W 0f Water @m1111103 1mm the or sterilizlng of the parts and for the insertion of level linthe lower `container falls' to the bottom -a new `piece of The strainer of the tube 3. 'I he hot water in the upper c011- -block is alsomovable upward' in case of excesv tainer 2 causes an infusion of the coffee therein. sive .p and tno; constitutes e safety de- 135 Tile liquid remains in the upper container as long vi A -5 v v as sullicient heat is applied to the bottom of the The foregoing and other advantages will be lower container to maintain the required presapp ted by those" skilled in the art of manu- Sure therein- In addition. continued boillu of i'actm'ing and operating coffee makers. the water in the lower container will force steam 1 claim;

upwardly through the tube 3 et least a portion 1. Appel-aun for making infusionsof coffee, of which will be condensed in the liquid in the teo, or` the like, comprising a lower lcontainer and upper container and any uncondensedsteam will an upper container having o tube connected to escape throush the Mould-to the atmosphere. and extendingl into seid lower container, said' 'I0 This process may continue for any desired time upper container-having an annular portion above 145 but preferably not'more than from three to flve said tube and communicetingtherewlth, a gravminute!!- Atthe end of the desired Period. heet- Vity-seated member in said annular portion and -ins of the Weller in the lower container is dis provideduponitssideandbottomsurfaceswith continued. a series of grooves constituting communicating 76 In case of imduly rapid heating and the prov i 4 ayswhichpermitliquid'toflowfromone 160 container to the other, straining material between said member and the walls of said annular portion, and said member having three angularly spaced portions of substantially the internal diameter oi' said annular portion for clamping said straining material in position, and three intermediate portions of a lesser diameter disposed therebetween which provide a space between the wall ot said member and the wall of the annular portion.

2. A straining device for coifee makers or the like comprising a substantially annular block having a plurality of grooves extending over its bottom and up along its side surfaces, a strainer member surrounding said block, and said vblock having a plurality of angularly spaced segmental portions for retaining said strainer member in operative position which have a greater radius than the intermediate portions.

3. A straining device for coifee makers or the like comprising' a block having a series of grooves extending from its bottom up along its side surface, certain of the peripheralv portions of the tions.

4. A straining device for colse makers or the like comprising an approximate cylindrical block having spaced grooves extended across to bottom surface and vertically up along its vside surface, the peripheral portions between alternate pairs of said grooves having a longer radius than the other peripheral portions, and a straining member surrounding said block and clamped in position by4 theperipheral portions ot longer radius.

5. Apparatus for making infusions of coifee, tea or the like, comprising a bowl having a discharge tube connected to its bottom and a cylindrical enlargement between the `upper end of said tube and the bowl, a straining material arranged in said enlargement and extended over the outlet of the bowl. and a retaining element mounted in said enlargement to hold said straining material in place, said retaining element bejing held in place by gravity and provided with grooves on its surface establishing communicating channels between said discharge tube and said bowl, and spaced segmental projections about its periphery which bear against the inner surface of said enlargement.

'GEORGE D.- mscnx'rn. 

